Catapult device



March 10, 1959` E H, HALVERSON I 2,876,760

CATAPULT DEVICEI Filed 0G13. 5, 1956 mMMMm/Wx QMMM dn/wy@ United States Patent O 2,876,760 `CATAPULT DEVICE Emmett H. Halverson, Prospect Heights, Ill. Application October 3, 1956, Serial No. 613,730

4 Claims. (Cl. 124-20) My present invention relates to catapult devices, and more particularly to a slingshot which s adapted to be held in the hand for projecting arrows toward a desired target.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slingshot which can be used with relatively great accuracy in propelling an arrow toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slingshot for engaging an arrow near the tip end thereof to propel the arrow toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arrow which is particularly adapted for use with slingshots.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved relatively short arrow which will maintain a relatively true course in its motion toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arrow which includes means for reducing the penetration of the arrow into a target.

Very briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a slingshot which comprises a body portion having a pair of upwardly extending arms between which is secured a two-part elastic sling, a releasable latch being provided at the center of the sling for interconnecting the two parts thereof. An arrow to be propelled by this sling is provided with a flange near the tip end thereof and the two parts of this sling are latched together between this ange and the feathers at the tail end of the arrow. When the arrow is then pulled back from the body to stretch the sling, the ange on the arrow engages the latch and holds it in a latched position while the sling is being stretched and held taut. When the arrow is released, and the sling propels it between the arms, the latch is released, and the sling separates to permit the tail end of the arrow to pass freely of the sling without damage to the feathers and without interference with the direction of travel of the arrow toward the target.

Further objects and advantages and a better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved slingshot and arrow in an assembled condition ready for shooting;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the releasable latch assembly employed in the slingshot of Fig. 1, showing the latch in a locked position;

Figs. 3 and 5 show the latch in a locked position as the sling is being stretched by an arrow during tiring;

Fig. 4 shows the latch being released as the arrow is red;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an arrow embodying an alternative form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view of the arrow of Fig. 6 taken along the line 7-7 thereof; and

Fig. 8 shows the arrow of Fig. 6 penetrating a target.

2,876,760 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 ICC Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a slingshot 10 to which an arrow 12 is attached for being catapulted thereof towards a target. The slingshot 10 comprises a body 14 having a depending handle portion 15 and a pair of upwardly cxtending arms 17 and 18. A two-part elastic sling comprises a pair of elastic bands 20 and 21 which are attached at their respective ends to the arms 17 and 18 and are connected at their other respective ends to separable parts 23 and 24 of a latch assembly 25. The part 24, which is generally U-shaped, has the associated end of the band 21 attached to the bight thereof by any suitable means and has olf-turned ends 24a for holding the part 23, which is a latching pin, in engagement therewith when the bands 23 and 24 are held taut. In order to facilitate the use of the latch 25 with Grecian type hunting arrows, such as the arrow 12, the center portions of the arms of the member 24 are provided with reverse bends 24b to provide aligned notches in which the trailing edge of a triangular tip 27 on the arrow 12 may be positioned while l the body 28 of the arrow extends rearwardly between the legs of the member 24. Y

The extremities of the arms 17 and 18 are provided with crossed slots 30 and 31 so that the elastic bands 20 and 21 may be readily secured to the arms 17 and 18 by rst laying respective intermediate portions thereof into the bottom of the grooves 31, wrapping the forwardly extending portions of the bands 20 and 21 around the respective arms 17 and 18 toward the opposite arm 17, 18, and then laying the remaining end portions in the grooves 30 over the portions of the bands 20 and 21 which are at the bottom of the slots 31. In this manner, no knots or other holding devices need be provided on the elastic members 20 and 21 and, as a result, they may readily be replaced when necessary. Moreover, in order to insure that the bands 20 and 21 do not slip out of the arms 17 and 18, the slots 30 and 31 are considerably narrower than the thickness of the bands 20 and 21. Consequently, the bands 20 and 21 must be stretched in order to place them into the slots.

With the sling attached to the body 14, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, the slingshot is particularly adapted for use by a right-handed person who holds the slingshot 10 in his leftv hand and holds the arrow 12 in his right hand. Therefore, in order to facilitate the holding of the slingshot 10 while a high stretching force is exerted on the sling by the force exerted on the arrow 12, the body 14 includes a thumb rest portion 35 which is asymmetrical with respect to the opposite side of the body 14 so as to provide a thumb rest which is well removed from the line of lire. In addition, a flanged heel portion 35a is provided on the opposite side of the handle from the portion 35 to counteract the force exerted by the thumb and prevent the handle from twisting in the hand. Obviously, if the slingshot is to be used by a left-handed person, the same body 14 is used but the elastic members 20 and 21 are attached in the reverse direction so that they extend from the back of the body 14 as viewed in Fig. 1. Preferably, the arms 17 and 18 are relatively widely spaced and are of substantial length so that a relatively wide, deep opening is provided in the frame so that clearance for the arrow and bands is provided since the bands do not separate from the arrow until the head of the arrow approaches and passes between the arms 17 and 18.

In using the slingshot 10 to catapult the hunting arrow 12, the body portion 28 of the arrow is slipped within the latch 24 and the pin 23 is slipped over the ends 24a and held in position until a slight tensile stress is exerted on the elastic members 20 and 21 to maintain the bands 20 and 21 taut and to hold the latch 25 in a locked position. A knobular end portion 37 on the arrow 12 assenso is then grasped by the right hand and the arrow 12 is l then pulled back with respect to the slingshot 10, which is held by means of the handle 15 with the thumb resting on the portion 35. Preferably, the knob 37 is streamlined in shape so as to reduce the drag on the arrow 12 when it is catapulted. The arrow is thus pulled back until the bands 20 and 21 are stretched a suiiicient amount to catapult the projectile a desired distance to the target, and while the arrow 12 is pointed at the target it is released by the right hand. When the arrow 12 is released, the elastic bands 20 and 21 contract to pull the arrow between the arms 17 and 18 and catapnlts it toward the target. As the arrow head 27 passes through the arms 17 and 18, the latch 25 releases, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to permit the feathers 38 on the arrow-12 to pass through the separated parts of the sing without damage and without catching the arrow 12 either to completely stop its movement toward the target or at least 4to detiect it.

It has been found that the knob 37 in addition to facilitating the withdrawing of the arrow 12 with respect to the slingshot also improves the liight of the arrow toward the target since it adds some weight to the rear of the arrow and prevents wobble which has been found to occur with short arrows not having the weighted tail end portion.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrow 40 which is particularly adapted for use with the Slingshot 10. The arrow 40 has an elongated body portion 41, a bullet tip 42 attached to the forward end, a plurality of feathers 44 for providing the necessary vanes, and a streamlined knobular end portion 46. As shown, the arrow 40 is provided with an annular flange 47 just aft of the tip 42 for providing a forward stop against which a washer 48 abuts during the catapulting of the arrow 40. The washer 48 provides a means for engaging the arms of the member 24 to hold the latch 25 in a latched condition during shooting as well as providing means for propelling the arrow 40 toward the target when the arrow 40 is released and the sling contracts.

The arrows which are used in connection with my improved Slingshot are relatively short as compared with the usual arrows used with conventional bows, having an overall length of only a few inches so that if they are tired from close range into a target damage might result to the feathers 44 which are positioned only a short distance back of the tip 42. Therefore, for the purpose of preventing this damage as well as to facilitate removal of the arrow 40 from the target, a flange 50 is provided on the body 41 of the arrow a short distance forward of the feathers 44 and the washer 48 isk slidable along the body 41. Preferably a friction fit is provided between the washer 48 and the body 41 so that in order to slide the washer 48 along the body 41 either a true axial force must be applied thereto or a considerably larger non-axial force must be applied. As a result, the washer 48 acts to slow down the penetration of the arrow 40 into a target 52 as the washer slides back along the bodyv 41 and when the washer 48 reaches the ange 50 further penetration of the arrow 40 is prevented. After the arrow is removed from the target the washer 48 may be easily moved forward against the ange 47 by applying a relatively small axial force thereon.

If desired, the arrow tips of Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, may be replaced by a rubber suction cup head and the latch member 24 may engage the rear end of the suction cup or, in the alternative, a separate flange may be provided adjacent the head of the arrow which is engageable with the latch 24.

It may thus be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved combination Slingshot and arrow which may be used for target shooting or for hunting small game, which is easy to use, and which provides great accuracy in projecting an arrow toward atarget.

While the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make many changes and modifications without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A Slingshot comprising, a body having a pair of extending arms, an elastic sling secured to said arms, said sling including an apertured latch means intermediate the ends thereof for automatically separating the sling into a plurality of parts only when a projectile is propelled by said sling between said arms.

2. A Slingshot comprising a body having a pair of spatially arranged sling supporting portions, an elastic sling secured at its ends to respective ones of said supporting portions, said sling comprising a pair of resilient bands interconnected by a latching means, said latching means comprising a first latch member xedly secured to only one of said bands and a second latch member fixedly secured to only the other of said bands, said first and second latch members including intertitting means for latching said pair of bands together only while a force is exerted on said sling through said latch means.

3. A Slingshot as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said latch members includes an aperture for the reception of the body portion of an arrow.

4. A Slingshot as set forth in claim 2 wherein said iirst latch member is U-shaped and the bight thereof is secured to said one band and said second latch member is elongated and the intermediate portion thereof is secured to said other band.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 166,416 McCall Dec. 21, 1951 332,984 Shears July 28, 1885 409,085 Weston Aug. 13, 1889 1,699,416 Wheeler Ian. 15, 1929 1,831,230 Copas Nov. l0, 1931 2,079,937 Harris May ll, 1937 2,600,524 Fernsel June 17, 1952 2,628,837 Zwickey Feb. 17, 1953 2,661,731 Casey Dec. 8, 1953 

